Will LEA fund a fifth year?

jd87

I originally started off on a 4 year course. I then changed my mind and decided I was only going to make it a 3 year course and told the LEA as such. Then some stuff happened and I ended up having to repeat the 3rd year of my 3 year course, for medical reasons. That's the stage I'm now at. I'm now starting to wish I had stayed on the 4 year course. If I decide to go and do the fourth year, which in my case will be my fifth year, will there be any problem getting the usual finance?

HopeAndDriftWood

The calculation is years of study + 1 - previous study, I think. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong!

So in your case, at the moment it is 3 + 1 - 3, meaning one year left. So I think going for the four year would be fine, but if you dropped out or failed, you would have no funding left, and would have to self fund.

Do you have medical evidence for repeating the third year?

The_One_Who

You'll need to discuss this with your LEA. Medical reasons can mitigate the usual rules, but it depends on your individual situation.

Taiko

Can you tell me when it was you transferred? If it's medical reasons and you provide evidence, you should be ok under CPR rules. But knowing when you transferred will enable me to tell you whether you'll need to go down that route.

jd87

What do you mean by transferred?

When I told the LEA I needed to repeat this year I told them it was for medical reasons and they said that was fine. I didn't need to provide medical evidence, they just wanted a letter from my university. I never saw the letter but I'm sure it would have explained the circumstances, and I could provide medical evidence if needs be.

Taiko

jd87 wrote: »

I originally started off on a 4 year course. I then changed my mind and decided I was only going to make it a 3 year course and told the LEA as such.

A transfer.

MrsManda

Taiko wrote: »

A transfer.

I can see why the OP was confused - I have been on a degree in the past where you had the option of a four year Masters or a 3 year BSc. You applied for the 4 year because then you could confirm funding with the LEA but didn't actually make the decision on whether you were taking the 3 or 4 year until you'd taken your second year exams. It wasn't considered a transfer as upto that point the course was the same.

Taiko

MrsManda wrote: »

I can see why the OP was confused - I have been on a degree in the past where you had the option of a four year Masters or a 3 year BSc. You applied for the 4 year because then you could confirm funding with the LEA but didn't actually make the decision on whether you were taking the 3 or 4 year until you'd taken your second year exams. It wasn't considered a transfer as upto that point the course was the same.

They are still considered a transfer at the LEA though if the change happens after already beginning the course. Transfer rules are slightly different, and depends on a students personal eligibility whether they would be entitled to continued support.

jd87

It was as Mrs Manda says. I initially applied for 4 years of funding. It was at the start of my first attempt at 3rd year that I informed the LEA I was just going to do 3 years - so the "transfer" would have been around October 2008. I suppose my question is, is it ok to reverse that decision and go back to 4 years.

Having to repeat the 3rd year is a separate event from me changing from a 4 to 3 year course (and hopefully back again).

The only reason I contacted the LEA originally was because at that point (start of first 3rd year) it was supposed to be my final year, and I realised that in your final year you are supposed to get slightly less funding - so it was out of my own honesty that I told them. Most people don't bother telling them they are no longer on the Masters course and take the extra money. It would be a shame if I am penalised for my own honesty.

Taiko

LEA's find this out regardless, as the university has to confirm the course details are correct before any fee payment is made. People in their final year will always end up with the correct amount. If they try to not tell, then come February when the fees are paid, the university sends through paperwork to confirm course details.

If it's done at this stage, the final installment is reduced significantly, rather than having the final year reduction spread over the 3 terms.

On the information given, you'll be ok for fee support though.